Analysis of the Quasi-Static Riveting Process for 90° Countersunk Rivet

Riveting is the most commonly used method of joining sheet metal components of the aircraft structure. The riveted joints are critical areas of the aircraft structure due to severe stress concentrations and effects such as fretting and secondary bending. The most spectacular and wellknown evident of this was the accident of Boeing B737 of Aloha Airline in 1988, when during the flight at altitude of 7300 m a large part of fuselage skin was removed due to explosive decompression. The investigation showed that the reason for this accident was widespread fatigue damage of riveted joints. This accident was an impulse for establishing many research programs around the world focused on fatigue of riveted joints.